Auto-rail-lubricator.



M. COLE.

AUTO RAIL LUBRICATOR. APPLICATION FILED on. 12. I917.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

wmmtoz Marlin fiale,

M. COLE.

AUTO RAIL LUBRICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00112. 1911.

ll WM MARTIN COLE, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AUTO-RAIL-LUBRICATOR.

Specificati o ers Patent. Patenflggd Sept 10, 1918,

Application filed October 12, 1917. Serial No. 196,268.

To all whom it may concern: Be it. known that I, MARTIN COLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Auto-Rail-Lubricators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lubricating devices and is especially designed for lubricating the rails of tracks and the flanges of wheels passing thereover.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device operated by the wheel flanges for delivering a predetermined quantity of lubricant in position to be taken up and distributed along the side of the rail with which the flanges contact.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for continually feeding the lubricant from the reservoir, in position to be received into the discharge cylinder, so that a predetermined quantitiy of the said lubricant may be discharged at each operation of the device.

A further object is to provide. a novel means for closing the discharge end of the device, so that it will remain normally closed to exclude dust and dirt, means being provided for auton'iatically opening said dis-- charge end to permit of the passage of the lubricant therethrough-and then automatically closing the same.

A still further object is to provide means for receiving the lubricant from the dis charge end of the'device where it will be taken up by the wheel flanges, the yielding mounting of the receiving means compensating for flanges of different depths.

With the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists of the following novel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a' plan view of the device illustrated in position for lubricating the rail of a curved track;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking toward the inner edge of the rail, the supply reservoir being removed and. the connecting pipe shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 44: of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is illustrated inFig. 1 a section of a curved track, the rail thereof being indicated at R. Secured upon the side flanges of the rail by any desired means is a base plate 10, the said plate being designed to support in position a discharge cylinder 11. The cylinder 11 is provided with a supply port 12, which is surrounded by a boss or flange 13, the latter being interiorly threaded to receive one end of a connecting pipe 14 by means of which the cylinder 11 communicate with the supply reservoir 15.

The reservoir 15 is supported upon a base plate 16 suitably secured in position adjacent the rail R, the cylinder 14 being provided with a discharge port 18, which is adapted to communicate through the. connecting pipe with the cylinder 11. The pipe 14 is provided with an annular flange 19 for engagement with the union 20 by means of which the said pipe is connected to the discharge end of the reservoir 15.

The supply reservoir is preferably cylindrical in cross-section, the end opposite the discharge port 18 being closed by a cap 21. This cap is formed with a central opening 22, through which is adapted to project a threaded rod 23, the inner end of which carries a head 24, provided with a packing 25, the head being secured upon the rod by means of jam nuts 26. Surrounding the rod 23 and interposed between the head 24 and the cap 21 is a coil spring 27, the purpose of which isto force the said head towardv the discharge end of the reservoir. For the purpose of limiting the inward movement of the head 24, the rod 23 hasmounted thereon upon the opposite side of the cap 21, a nut 28, this nut being held in adjusted position by means of a lock nut 29. By this means from the amount of pressure exerted the contents of the supply reservoir may be regulated. The reservoir 15 is filled through an opening 30, which is adapted to close by means of a plug 81.

Mounted for operation within the cylinder 11 is a )lunger 32, which is normally positioned a ove the opening 12, the said plunger being operated to discharge the contents of the same through the medium of of a stud 34, which is preferably threaded lid 59 to its normal position.

into the under ,surface of the plate, the opposite end of the said stud operating in an openlng 35, provided in the bracket 36, one

of these brackets being located at, each end of the base plate 10. Surrounding each of the studs 34 and interposed between the under face of the operating late 33 and the bracket 36 is a coil spring 3?, the purpose of which is to normally maintain the said plate in a raised position for contact with the wheel flange.

Mounted upon oppositely flanges 38 extending from the base of the discharge'cylinder 11 are short studs 39 and secured to and dependingfrom the plate 33 are similar studs 40, which aline with the studs 39. Surrounding each of the studs 39 and 40 and bearing against the under face of the plate 33 and the top of the flange 38 is a spring 41, whichv assists the springs 37 in maintaining the plate 33 in an elevated position, these springs acting to insure an even pressure upon the plate 33 and keep said plate in a substantially horizontal position.

Thedischarge cylinder 11 is provided with a discharge port 42, which is connected by means of an inclined pipe 43 with a discharge opening 44, the latter being positioned to deliver the lubricant in proper position to be taken up by the flange of the wheel. The opening 44 is normally closed by means ofa plate 45, which is carried by one end of an arm 46, the opposite end of this arm being secured to one end of the I the plate 33 is depressedthe ,dischargeopening 44 will be opened to permit of the passage of thelubricant, the said opening beingclosed by the return of the said plate 33 Located adjacent the discharge opening 44 andin position to receive the lubricant pas in therethrough is a receiving plate 47, thls plate being mounted adjacent the head of the rail and in the path of the wheel flange. Secured to; each end of the receiving plate 47 is a depending stud 48, the lower end of each' of these studs operating in openings 49 provided at each end of a bracket 50, which is secured in position by any-desired means. The plate 47 is yieldingly mounted and to accomplish this each of the studs 48 is surrounded by a spring 59, one end of which bears againstthe unextending 1 operating plate 33. By this means, when cylinder, a receiving plate located at the disder face of the plate 47 and the opposite end against the top of the bracket 50, the plate being limited in its upward movement by means of heads 51. Similar heads 52 serve to limit the upward movement of the plate 33.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the flange of the wheel in its movement will depress the plate 33, causing the flange 32 to discharge the contents of the cylinder 11 .upon the receiving plate 47, to be'taken up by the'said wheel flange and distributed along the side of the head of the rail, so that each movement of the wheel along the rail will lubricate'said rail.

Various changes maybe made in the form, proportion and details of construction 0f the device and the right is reserved to make such changes.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. The combinationwith track rails, of a lubricant reservoir, a discharge cylinder communicating therewith, means for forc ing,the lubricant from the reservoir to said cylinder, means communicating with said cylinderfor directing the contents thereof to the rail and means including a yieldingly mounted plate operated, by the wheel flange whereby the said lubricant will be taken up by the flange. 2. The combination with track rails, of a lubricant reservoir, a discharge cylinder communicating therewith, of means for forcing the lubricant from the reservoir to said cylinder, means communicating with said cylinder for directing the contents thereof to the rail, and a yieldingly mounted receiving plate located in the path of said wheel and in position to recelve said lubricant.

3. "The combination with a track rail, of

a lubricant reservoir, a discharge cylinder communicating therewith, means for forcing the lubricant from the reservoir to said cylinder, means communicating with said cylinder for directing the contents thereof to the rail, means operated by the wheel flanges for forcing the lubricant from the charge end of the lubricant directing means and means for automatically opening and closing said discharge end.

.4. The combination with track rails, of a lubricant reservoir, a discharge cylinder connected therewith, means for forcing the lubricant from the reservoir to said cylinder, means communicating with said cylinder for directing the contents thereof to the rail, .means operated by the wheel flanges for forcing the lubricant from the cylinder,

a receiving' plate located at the discharge end of the lubricant directing means and 5. The combination with track rails, of a lubricant reservoir, a discharge cylinder connected therewith, means for forcing the lubricant from the reservoir to said cylinder, means communicating with said cylinder for directing the contents thereof to the rail, means operated by the Wheel flanges 10 for forcing the lubricant from the cylinder, a receiving plate located at the discharge end of'the lubricant directing means and means operated by the cylinder discharge means for automatically opening and closing said 15 1 discharge end.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MARTIN COLE. 

